The Power of Priority

Monday morning, and as I begin sorting through my emails, I come across an invitation to a Biblical study—one that promises to dive deep into ancient wisdom and Hebrew texts. Naturally, this catches my eye. But with every online meeting, there are two things I always check first: the time and date. Now, this might seem obvious, but not for the reason you might think.

As this is an international Zoom call, timing is crucial. I’ve learned that late-night meetings don’t work for me—my brain simply won’t function at that hour, and it robs me of precious sleep. Sleep, for me, is sacred. It’s a priority, because the quality of my rest directly impacts my productivity and clarity the next day. It fuels my creativity, my ability to problem-solve, and empowers me to perform in ways beyond what I believe I’m capable of, which is a testament to God’s grace at work in my life.

The date is important too, because I only see my children half of the time. When they’re with me, my full attention is on them—especially during the precious moments before bed, when I tuck them in and we reflect on the day’s highs and lows. As a mother, my children are my ministry. In these formative years, I want to lay a strong foundation of faith, trust, safety, and identity. This investment in their lives is non-negotiable for me.

Because of these two factors, I respectfully declined the invitation.

Having clear priorities creates healthy boundaries in life. And healthy boundaries are key to our well-being—both mentally and physically. Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” this verse has long been my anchor when overwhelmed by my ever-growing to-do list. But after seeking God’s wisdom and discernment, I came to realize that this verse doesn’t say, “I can do all things all at once.” Yes, God is capable of miracles in helping us manage our tasks, but not everything on our list is part of His plan. He also modeled a rhythm of prioritizing one thing at a time—choosing each day’s work and celebrating its completion.

Not long ago, I felt led to write down everything I believed was important, everything that demanded my attention. The list stretched nearly two pages. Then God said, “Now, write down your Top 5.” I resisted, negotiating for Top 10, but God’s invitation was clear. It was an eye-opening, deeply authentic exercise. I wasn’t trying to impress anyone, least of all God. I wrote down 10 things—ranked from most to least important—and was astonished at how clearly my priorities emerged. I had to repent for the areas where I was wasting time, energy, finances, and thoughts on things that weren’t even close to the top of the list. That night, I went to bed feeling a weight had been lifted, and I slept deeply.

I wholeheartedly recommend this exercise. Be brutally honest with yourself. Take your list to God, and you’ll see where to let go and where to refocus. For me, it’s clear that some areas need to be of higher priority, but are not yet. I’ve asked God to shift my heart and mind in those areas. The truth is, when you align your time, energy, and finances with what you truly value, it’s never a burden. But when you force your resources into something misaligned with your priorities, regret follows—and it impacts the health of your heart. This is especially true when it comes to health journeys. If our hearts aren’t aligned, wellness becomes a punishment, and our bodies resist.

Take some time to reflect: What are your priorities right now? Write them down. Which ones would benefit from a renewed perspective and re-prioritization? Ask God to give you clarity and guide you through this process. I’ll be reassessing mine in a few months, as priorities are fluid—they change. But I hold tightly to Philippians 1:6, which reminds me that, “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”